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Summary Notes - Topic 14 Coordination and Response - CIE Biology IGCSE
Summary Notes - Topic 14 Coordination and Response - CIE Biology IGCSE
Some movement is involuntary; organisms have adapted to carry out automatic reflexes
when in danger in order to quickly remove themselves from a hazard such as fire or sharp
Both controlled movement and autonomic reflexes are carried out by the body’s nervous
objects. As these reactions must occur almost instantly to protect the organism, the nervous
system. The nervous system controls movement by sending electrical signals known as nerve
impulse does not travel to the brain. Voluntary impulses are controlled by the brain.
impulses along a network of specialised nerve cells called neurons. This allows coordinated
movement and a constant internal environment to be maintained (homeostasis).
Reflex arc:
1. A stimulus, such as heat from a flame, is detected by receptors.
The nervous system consists of two main sections: the central nervous system (CNS) and the
2. The receptor sends an impulse down the sensory neuron to the spinal cord.
peripheral nervous system. The CNS is made up of the brain and spinal cord, whereas the
3. The relay neuron in the CNS passes the impulse to the motor neuron.
peripheral nervous system contains motor and sensory neurons, which carry impulses to and
4. The impulse travels along the motor neuron to an effector (e.g. a muscle), which reacts
from the CNS.
to remove the organism from the danger.
The endocrine system produces and secretes hormones. Hormones are molecules that travel in Homeostasis is the maintenance of a constant internal environment in organisms, despite
Rods Cones the blood and are used for signalling in the body. They are produced in glands such as the external changes. This allows the environment to be at an optimum for cells to function.
pituitary and adrenal glands, before being excreted into the blood, where they travel to target Internal conditions must be maintained between set limits and if these limits are exceeded,
Shape Rod-shaped Cone-shaped
organs and cause a change in the cells. negative feedback mechanisms work to correct the change and restore the internal
Function Used for monochromatic night Used for colour vision in bright light. environment to the optimum.
vision as they are more There are three types of cone cells, Endocrine glands:
sensitive to low levels of light each sensitive to a different colour A network of hormone-secreting glands make-up the endocrine system. This system helps to Regulating blood-glucose concentration:
(red, green and blue)
control growth, metabolism and homeostasis, among other functions. The level of glucose in the blood must be maintained as part of homeostasis:
Distribution Evenly distributed at the Concentrated at the fovea
periphery of the retina; absent Example glands and functions: ● If the level of glucose in the blood is too high, the water potential of the blood
at the fovea becomes very low, thus water moves out of cells into the blood by osmosis. This leads
Gland Hormone Function to cells shrinking and eventually dying.
Pupil reflex:
The pupil of the eye can expand and contract to control the amount of light that enters the Adrenal gland Adrenaline Secreted during the ‘fight or flight’ response, and when ● If the level is too low, water potential is high and thus water moves from the blood
eye. This action is carried out by two sets of muscles, circular muscles and radial muscles, (located at the top stressed or excited. It leads to an increase in pulse rate into the cells, causing them to burst. Maintaining a constant blood-glucose level
of the kidneys) and widened pupils.
which work antagonistically. At low light intensities, the pupil dilates to allow more light to therefore maintains a constant water potential so no unwanted osmosis occurs. In
It also causes glycogen to be converted to glucose in
enter the eye by relaxing the circular muscles and contracting the radial muscles. At high light cells so that it can be used in respiration for energy. addition, it means that there is a reliable source of energy for cells.
intensities, the pupil constricts to limit the amount of light entering the eye by relaxation of the Heart rate increases to provide more oxygen for this.
radial muscles and contraction of the circular muscles. This is to prevent the eye being There are two hormones that are used to regulate blood-sugar levels: glucagon and insulin.
damaged by the bright light. Pancreas Insulin Maintains blood-glucose concentration. Both of these are synthesised in cells in the pancreas and are released into the blood from
Testes Testosterone Maintains muscle and bone strength and plays a role in here when the levels of blood-glucose are too high or too low:
Accommodation: reproduction.
The eye can focus on both near and far objects. This is achieved by changing the shape of the ● Insulin is released when blood-glucose concentration is too high. This is detected in
lens, which is controlled by ciliary muscles and suspensory ligaments. These work Ovaries Oestrogen Regulates female reproductive system. the pancreas. Insulin causes glucose to be converted to glycogen in the liver. This
antagonistically. The shape of the lens, as well as its curvature, is altered to change the way lowers the concentration of glucose in cells, thus glucose diffuses into cells from the
light is refracted onto the retina, focusing the image. blood, lowering the amount of glucose in the blood.
Endocrine system vs nervous system:
To focus on near objects, the ciliary muscles contract whilst the suspensory ligaments relax, ● Nervous impulses travel along neurons whereas hormones travel in the blood. ● Glucagon is released when blood-glucose concentration is too low. Glucagon inhibits
making the lens fatter and curved. To focus on distant objects, the ciliary muscles relax whilst ● Nervous impulses are much quicker than hormones, as hormones must be transported glucose being converted to glycogen in the liver and activates an enzyme that converts
the suspensory ligaments contract, making the lens thinner and less curved. in the blood whereas nervous impulses can travel along specialised nerve cells. glycogen to glucose, making more glucose available to cells. It also decreases the
● Nervous impulses are instantaneous and short-lived, whereas a hormonal response respiratory rate in cells so that less glucose is used in respiration.
can be long-lasting.
● The endocrine system uses chemicals (hormones) whereas the nervous system uses People with diabetes cannot produce insulin. Type 1 diabetes is caused by an autoimmune
electrical signals. response in which antibodies attack cells in the pancreas which usually make insulin. This
means that no insulin can be produced. In type 2 diabetes, either not enough insulin is
produced by the pancreas, or the cells do not respond correctly to the insulin. Type 1 diabetes
Tropic Responses
Tropisms are growth movements in plants that occur in reaction to external stimuli. Plants can
show a positive or negative response, and different parts of the plants can show different
responses. These responses are controlled by plant hormones called auxins which cause cell
elongation. Auxins are made in shoot tips and move through the plant by diffusion and active
transport (short distances), or via the phloem (longer distances).
Gravitropism:
Gravitropism (also known as geotropism) is a response to gravity. Shoots are negatively
gravitropic, as they grow upwards against gravity, whereas roots are positively gravitropic.
Phototropism
Phototropism is a response to light. Plant shoots are positively phototropic, as they move
towards light in order to allow the plant to absorb more light to photosynthesise. Plant roots
are negatively phototropic as they move away from light.
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